The Relationships Between Executive Function and Positive Reappraisal Abilities in Adulthood

150 Pages·2015·1.08 MB·English

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Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies
1-1-2013
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Yen-chen Chang
University of Denver
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THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND POSITIVE
REAPPRAISAL ABILITIES IN ADULTHOOD
__________
A Dissertation
Presented to
the Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Denver
__________
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
__________
by
Yen-chen Chang
August 2013
Advisor: Julia Dmitrieva
©Copyright by Yen-chen Chang 2013
All Rights Reserved
Author: Yen-chen Chang
Title: THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND POSITIVE
REAPPRAISAL ABILITIES IN ADULTHOOD
Advisor: Julia Dmitrieva
Degree Date: August 2013
Abstract
Positive reappraisal, a type of emotion regulation that involves cognitively
reframing negative information in a positive light, has been shown to promote resilience
in stressed individuals (i.e., it decreases depression and enhances well-being). The ability
to use positive reappraisal (PRA) varies widely across individuals, raising the question of
which cognitive functions might support this ability. Only a few studies have investigated
this question, and they have not yet examined the relationships between PRA and
executive functions that involve emotional materials (“valence-specific executive
functions;” EF). The first part of the present study examined the relationships between
PRA and two types of valence-specific EF theorized to be involved in PRA: inhibition of
negative information and working memory for positive information. A community
sample of 250 men and women (age 18 to 72 years) completed a PRA task and several
valence-specific EF tasks. Results indicated no associations between PRA and valence-
specific EF. To take a step further, the second part of the study investigated whether age
moderated the relationships between PRA and valence-specific EF. Previous studies have
documented decline in cognitive function but well-preserved emotional function in old
age. This raises the question of whether the relationships between PRA and valence-
specific EF change as a function of age. Regression analyses indicated an interaction
between age and inhibition of negative information, such that older adults with better
inhibition of negative information demonstrated higher PRA, whereas younger adults

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with better inhibition of negative information showed lower PRA. These results have
important implications for understanding how valence-specific EF supports PRA in
adulthood. Potential explanations, methodological and theoretical implications, and
future directions are discussed.

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Acknowledgements
This dissertation would not be possible had it not been the continuous support,
inspiration, and encouragement from many wonderful people. Here, I would like to offer
my most sincere gratitude.
First, I want to thank my advisor, Dr. Iris Mauss. Thank you for your thoughtful
feedback and guidance in the dissertation process, and for your effort in training me to
write and think in the language of science. I would also like to thank the members of my
committee, Dr. Julia Dmitrieva, Dr. Kateri McRae, Dr. Sarah Watamura, and Dr. Kathy
Green. I appreciate your statistical assistance and insightful input for my dissertation. I
also want to thank Dr. Kelly Snyder, who saw the potential in me five years ago and gave
me the opportunity to learn and grow in the field of psychology.
Second, I want to offer my thanks to the members of the writing group and fellow
graduate students: Emma Espel, Chelsea Meenan, Lisa Mcfadyen-Ketchum, Marina
Mendoza, Anh Hua, Hannah Bianco, Catherine Alber, and Patrick Bowen. Thank you for
your warm support and constructive feedback on this dissertation.
Last but not the least, I cannot thank my family enough for their love and support.
Thank you to my parents and sister, who have always encouraged me to pursue advanced
education to better serve society. Finally, I wish to thank Micah Puett and his family.
Thank you for always having confidence in me and supporting me one hundred percent in
every possible way. I consider myself very fortunate to have all the encouragement,
inspiration, and support that accompany me on this PhD journey. Thank you all very
much!

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Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction ...................................................................................................1
Reappraisal .......................................................................................................................1
Types of Reappraisal ....................................................................................................4
Reappraisal Ability ......................................................................................................8
Reappraisal and Executive Function ..............................................................................10
Subcomponents of EF ................................................................................................10
Evidence for the Contribution of EF to Reappraisal ..................................................15
Limitations of Previous Studies and the Focus of Present Research .........................15
Hypotheses I. ..............................................................................................................18
Age, Executive Function, and Positive Reappraisal Ability ..........................................18
Emotional Aging ........................................................................................................19
Cognitive Aging .........................................................................................................25
Intersection between Emotional Aging and Cognitive Aging ...................................33
Limitations of Previous Studies .................................................................................35
Hypotheses II. ............................................................................................................36
Chapter Two: Method ........................................................................................................38
Overview ........................................................................................................................38
Participants .....................................................................................................................38
Procedure .......................................................................................................................39
Measures ........................................................................................................................40
Chapter Three: Results .......................................................................................................48
Manipulation Check: Sadness Induction .......................................................................48
Manipulation Check: Reappraisal Instruction ...............................................................49
Previous Experience with Films ....................................................................................50
Older Adult Sample Characteristics ...............................................................................51
Descriptives ....................................................................................................................52
Question 1: Does Valence-specific EF Correlate with PRA? ........................................54
Question 2.1: Does PRA Increase with Age? ................................................................58
Question 2.2: Does Valence-specific EF Change with Age? ........................................60
Question 2.3: Do the Relationships between Inhibition of Valence-specific Information
and PRA Change across Adulthood? .............................................................................62
Question 2.4: Do the Relationships between WM for Valence-specific Information and
PRA Change across Adulthood? ....................................................................................66
Chapter Four: Discussion ...................................................................................................69
I. Valence-specific Executive Function and Positive Reappraisal Ability ....................69
Inhibition and PRA ....................................................................................................69
WM and PRA .............................................................................................................73
Valence-specific EF and PRA ...................................................................................75
II. Valence-specific Executive Function and Positive Reappraisal Ability across
Adulthood ......................................................................................................................78
Age and PRA .............................................................................................................78

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Age and Valence-specific EF .....................................................................................79
The Relationships between PRA and Valence-specific EF across Age ....................81
Strengths, Limitations, and Future Directions ...............................................................83
Conclusion .....................................................................................................................89
References ..........................................................................................................................90
Appendices .......................................................................................................................108
Appendix A: Tables .....................................................................................................108
Appendix B: Figures ....................................................................................................132
Appendix C: Reappraisal Instructions .........................................................................140

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List of Tables
Table 1. Exclusion Criteria and Final Sample .................................................................108
Table 2. Sample Characteristics .......................................................................................109
Table 3. Summary of Intercorrelations, Means, and Standard Deviations for Emotion
Reactivity (ER) and Positive Reappraisal Ability (PRA) by Age Group ........................110
Table 4. Summary of Intercorrelations, Means, and Standard Deviations for Valence-
Specific EF Variables: Inhibition and Working Memory (WM) by Age Group .............112
Table 5.1-5.3 Linear Regression Analyses: Predicting PRA by Inhibition of Valence-
Specific Information, Controlling for Emotion Reactivity (ER) ....................................114
Table 6.1-6.3 Linear Regression Analyses: Predicting PRA by Working Memory (WM)
for Valence-Specific Information, Controlling for Emotion Reactivity (ER) ................117
Table 7.1-7.3 Curvilinear Regression Analyses: Predicting PRA by Inhibition of Valence-
Specific Information and Inhibition of Valence-Specific Information Squared,
Controlling for Emotion Reactivity (ER). ......................................................................120
Table 8.1-8.3 Curvilinear Regression Analyses: Predicting PRA by Working Memory
(WM) for Valence-Specific Information and WM for Valence-Specific Information
Squared, Controlling for Emotion Reactivity (ER). .......................................................123
Table 9.1-9.3 Regression Analyses: Predicting PRA by Age and Inhibition of Valence-
Specific Information, Controlling for Emotion Reactivity (ER). ...................................126
Table 10.1-10.3 Regression Analyses: Predicting PRA by Age and Working Memory
(WM) of Valence-Specific Information, Controlling for Emotion Reactivity (ER). .....129

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List of Figures
Figure 1. Dual-processing Model. Inhibition of negative information and working
memory for positive information contribute to Positive reappraisal ability (PRA). .......132
Figure 2. Schematic presentation of experimental procedure. ........................................133
Figure 3a. Negative Priming Task. .................................................................................134
Figure 3b. Negative Affective Priming Task. .................................................................135
Figure 4. Positive emotion ratings across films and groups. ..........................................136
Figure 5a. The interaction of Inhibition-Negative and age on PRA-Happiness. ............137
Figure 5b. The interaction of Inhibition-Negative and age on PRA-Love. ....................138
Figure 5c. The interaction of Inhibition-Negative and age on PRA-Optimism. .............139

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